Typewriter keyboard



o. TYBER'G 1 -.T'YPEWRITER KEYBOARD y Filed Feb. s, 192e S ll4||| UJI' 1I nul| i lllllmllllI Dec. 13, 1927.

INVENToR n eff@- Patented Dec. 13, 1927..

Ni-ran STATES? intatti.

OLUF TYBERG, OE POINT LOMA, CALIFORNIA.

TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD.

Application led February 8, 1926. vSerial No. 86,815.

This invention relates to keyboards for 'power-typewritersor similar machines, and is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 13,613,led Mar. 6, 1925.

o @ne object of this invention is to construct .a keyboard in such a manner that all the automatic motions ot a machine of `this vnature can be controlled by the operator `with the least possible motion of the hands'.

io Another object is embodied in a new and useful grouping of the printing-keys, that will make their operation by touch easier to master, and Which-will generally tend `to improve both speed and accuracy.

These and other valuable features will be more yfully disclosed hereinafter, and have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Awhich Fig. 1 is a top-view of the keyboard consisting of three distinctsecao tions. While the left and right hand sections are supposed to be alike, and my preferred key-'arrangement has been shown in the lefthand section, I have shown a slightly modied key-arrangement inthe right-hand sec- 42&5 tion of' this view. Fig. 2 is an end-view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front-view of Fig. 1, sectioned-on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front-view of the right-hand section 0f Fig. 1, sectioned on the lines In the above referred-to application I have shown a keyboard containing 60 printing keys, but as the typewriter construction disclosed in that application permits the .use of a much larger number. ofv types, I have shown a correspondingly larger ke board, but it should be understood that t e number of keys used constitutes no part of this invention.

The above referred-to invention discloses, besides the short motion and light touch of the printing-keys, that on such machines it is possible to control automatically from the keyboard several different motions ofthe paper and thecarriage, and for which therefore` a corresponding number of keys is needed; These keys together with theusual Space and shiftkeys Will 'hereafter be rel"` erred to as the control-keys, and as such distinguished from the rnting keys. The. 4'actual' number of contro keys 'is immaterial to the. subject of this invention.

The printing-k yb'qard-is dividedirao two separate flat-top sections, mounted upon the two frames A and B. Between these sections, and mounted in the frame-portion C,

Y are grouped a series of control keys, which.

toge-.ther`- constitute` the control-keyboard,

and in which the keys are arranged in bankformation. The object ot this arrangement is'to enable the operator to manipulate any of thekeys in thev control-keyboard` with either one of the two thumbs without removing his lingers from the printing keys. The control-keys may be connected to the machine in any suitable manner, but in my preferred construction they -are fastened to the end of a corresponding series of key-leversl Vplate P, which make their upper surface present one single plane. By means of distinct dierences in file distances, these keys have been arranged into four demarcated groups, in order to clearly indicate the par. ticularfkeys to be operated by each of the four fingers according to the system of touch writing now in general use. To further ldisclose this grouping to either or both sight and touch, and thus aid the correct lingering, each of these four groups has been surroun ed by raised finger-guides, made in the formF of an open guideframe G, resting on the top-plate P. This frame may be made either a part of the top-plate itself, or attachable thereto as shown.

In Fig. 1, part B is shown a modified keyarrangement, where the same general principle above outlined has been applied to the letter-keys only,-that is the keys occupying the three front ranks of the keyboard; while the rear keys, or the ligure and sign-keys,

have been grouped independently in any suitable manner according to the number of l such keys. Besides the ltop-surfaces of these latter keys. have been made to extend above the guide-frame G, as shown in Figure 4.

Having thus fully described my invention,

whatI claim as new and useful is set forth" in the following claims: y

1. A .printing keyboard comprising a series of keys whose upper surfaces jointly constitute a plane, said ke s located' in a series of parallel ranksan tiles, and said ranks separated by dilerent Ele-distances into distinct oups for the purpose of dislll) closingto ei` er and both sight -and-,touch the particular keys to be operated by each of the fingers.

2. A printing keyboard comprising a series of keys whose upper surfaces jointly oo nstitute a plane, said ke s located in a series of parallel ranks and es, said ranks sepa-- rated by different file-distances into distinct groups, arid said groups surrounded by raised finger-guides. v v 3. A printing keyboard comprising a fiat top-plate provided with openings in which the heads of the printing keys are mounted, said keys extending-an equal distance above said plate, said openings located in a series of parallel ranks and iles, and said ranks separatedv by different file-distances into distinct groups for the` purpose of disclosing to either or both sight and touch the particular keys to be operated by each of the ngers.

4. A printing keyboard comprising a flat top-plate provided with openings in which the heads of the printing keys are mounted, said keys extending an equal distance above said plate, said openings located in a series of parallel ranks and tiles, said ranks separated by different file-distances into distinct lll) groups, and said groups surrounded by raised finger-guides resting upon said topp ate.

5. In a power typewriter t-he combination of a printing keyboard divided into two separate sections, each section comprising a series of ranks and'iles of keys whose upper surfaces jointly constitute a plane; and a control-keyboard interposed between said sections and comprising a number of banked keys arranged'in' a series of ranks and files.

6. In a power typewriter the combination of a printing keyboard divided into two separate sections, each section comprising a number of keys whose upper surfaces jointly constitute a plane, said keys located in a series of parallel ranks and files, and said ranks separated by different iile distances into distinct groups, and a control keyboard interposed between said sections and comprising a number of banked keys arranged in a series of ranks and iles.

7. A printing keyboard comprising a top plate with openings in which the heads of the keys are mounted, said openings located in distinct groups, and each group surrounded by raised finger-guides inthe form of flat open frames resting on said top plate.

8. In a power typewriter the combination of a printing keyboard divided into separate sections, each section comprising a topplate with openings in which the heads of the keysI are mounted, said openings located in distinct groups, each group surrounded by raised finger-guides in the form of iat open frames resting on said top plate, and a control keyboard interposed between said sections and comprising a number of banked keys arranged in a series of ranks and files.

Signed by me at Point Loma, California, this 29th day of January, 1926.

OLUF TYBERG. 

